Tianyi Pavilion Library (Tianyi Ge)

Tianyi Pavilion Library is situated beside the Moon Lake in west Ningbo City. The library, which has survived 430 years of dramas and upheavals, is the oldest existing private library of China and Asia, and one of the world's three oldest libraries kept by a family. For centuries it has been reputed to be the "city of books in South China" for its giant collection of highly-valued ancient books and documents. For those men of letters traveling to Ningbo, a trip to its Tianyi Pavilion has always been a craved experience. However, during the past several hundred years, the library used to be the private property of the Fan family, an absolutely restricted neighborhood. As a result no more than twenty visitors could have a privilege to step into the premises during the past several hundred years. Today Tianyi Pavilion is a vault chosen by the State government to deposit Ningbo's private bibliotheca. It is open to the public too so that experts and scholars can finally have access to their most coveted archives right in the library, rare documents buried under centuries of dust. This can be called "the modern use of the old times". In 1982, the State Council made Tianyi Pavilion one of the country's key cultural heritages, thus turning the library into an indispensable landmark in this city famous for its remarkable historical culture, a star of civilization in which Ningbo people take great pride. Tianyi Pavilion Library deserves to be called a wonder in the history of libraries in China and Fan Qin the founder of Tianyi Pavilion is the creator of the wonder. Fan Qin, the owner of Tianyi Pavilion was born in Yinxian County and lived during the reign of Emperor Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty. In 1532 when he was 27 years old, Fan passed the highest imperial examination and earned the title of jinshi--successful candidate in the examination. After that he served as an imperial governor in many places of China, where he accumulated diverse experiences and made impressive achievements. In 1560 when he turned 55 and was weary of politics, Fan Qin resigned as senior minister of the Ministry of War and returned to his hometown. With remarkable ingenuity he had a house built beside Ningbo's Moon Lake to store his books. Borrowing an idea from The Book of Changes suggested in "Heaven embodied in One gives birth to water, while Earth represented in Six makes it grow", Fan Qin named the new house "Tianyi Pavilion" (that is "Pavilion of Heaven and One"). Books are most vulnerable to fire, he said, but water can suppress fire. Thus the name "Tianyi" hints at the fact that water curbs fire and in this way Fan Qin hoped his stock might for ever be clear of the destructive might of flames. He also wedged the idea into the structure of the library, where one large room constitutes the upper floor, suggesting "Heaven joined with one gives birth to water", whereas downstairs there are six chambers, alluding to the message "Earth coupled with six makes it thrive". Besides he had a pond dug in front of the house, a reservoir in case of fire. There is always water in the pond, even during grave droughts, for it is connected with the Moon Lake on its east side. Thus a similar name "Tianyi Pond". Even the bookcases in the house were made in such sizes that they correspond to the idea of six and one. Indeed everything in the library is evidence of the owner's clever designing.

Wulongtan Scenic Resort

Wulongtan Scenic Resort lies in Longguan town, southeast of Yingzhou , Ningbo city. It is only 35 kilometers away from Ningbo downtown areas, covering an area of 16.17 square kilometers. Wulongtan is a terrain scenic attraction surrounded by mountains and ravines. The place is proficient in beautiful waters and hills with the characteristics of rustic folk atmosphere. It is incorporated with resting places, pilgrimage sites and sports areas, which could satisfy various tourists who want to go back towo the nature and enjoy the culture and scenes here. The dragon totem in china makes the place put on a traditional look, which will create a new brand in the home market featuring “ traveling Long tan, watch dragon tradition and pay homage to dragon ancestor. Wulongtan scenic resort is made up of four areas including Tianjinao folk culture museum, Longtan cascade sightseeing areas, Guandin Lake amusement tourist attractions, Longdin mountain resting places. Longtan cascade sightseeing areas in the first phase have five wells, twelve cascades Wulong divinity hall and Long altar. The supported structures has inlet areas, in and out squares, platforms and pavilions, commercial houses, tourist steps and water, electric and highway facilities. The down investment amounts to 18 millions Yuan and the whole place will in exclusive management. In Oct 1st 2000, the resort carries out a pilot running and an official running in April 28th 2001. Nowadays, it has improved its facilities a lot with the scenes increased inside the place. The bus from Longguan town to scene resorts has been put into place and tourist bus also has been equipped, in addition, the place has the Wulongtan Hotel, which can hold 200 people at the same time. The tourists can also drifting in Zhangxi River, barbecuing and camping, climbing and fishing besides enjoying beautiful scenes and traditional cultures. Tianjin mountain and Wulong tan was famous in the history. The folks in Ningbo believed in Dragon king in Wulongtan in the history and asked for rains in Tianjin mountain, which left many stories for us. The books in many dynasties kept records about Wulongtan. Wulongtan has been put in a divine place for over a thousand years. A pond or a scenic resort has never given a official title like Wulongtan. Wulongtan has a history of more than a thousand years in appealing for rains. The ancient altar was built on the sites where local officials lead there people to ask for the rains. The ceremony is great, which could be illustrated in many ancient books. And the local folklores are also filled with traditional information about the culture.

Baoguo Temple

Baoguo Temple is seated on the mountainside of Lingshan Mountain, about 15 kilometers (around 9.3 miles) away from downtown Ningbo City. As a cultural relic spot under state-level protection, it was initially established in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) and rebuilt and expanded in later dynasties. The present Baoguo Temple is a mixture of constructions made by various dynasties. At the gate of Baoguo Temple stand two stone pillars with Buddhist scriptures, which date back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Inside the temple, along the central axis are located the Mahavira Hall (the Grand Hall), the Kwanyin Hall, the Devaraja Hall and the Scripture Repository. Around the Grand Hall are scattered the Bell Tower, the Drum Tower and the Guest House, and so forth. The Grand Hall is the main construction of the temple. Built in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), it is one of the oldest and the best-preserved example of wooden architecture south of the Yangtze River. Today, the Grand Hall is still a mystery to scientists. No bird builds its nest in the Grand Hall; even no insect lives in the hall and the hall always remains free of dust. Some say that it's because the wood used in the hall gives out a special scent which frightens away these insects. More people believe it's because of its extraordinary style of construction. The hall is built without a single nail and the girders, pillars, columns are joined together neatly. When the wind comes into the hall, it swirls and produces a sound wave which scares off birds and insects and takes away the dust. There are 17 showrooms open to the public, such as the exhibition rooms of Kwanyin statues, bronze wares, the local customs of marriage, and notable scientific and technological discoveries and inventions of the 20th century. Tourists have the chance to enrich themselves with knowledge during their visit.

Danshanchishui scenic spot

Danshanchishui scenic spot locates in Yuyao city, Zhejiang Province, a famous city for its historical associations and was called “City of Documents”. Siming Mountain, rolling hills for 800 kilometers long melts there with Yaojiang, a river in which flowing the 7000-year Cathay Civilization, generating a charming paradise on earth. Persimmon tree Located in the interior of Siming Mountain, Danshanchishui is“China AAAA-level Tourist Resort” , and “the Best Village Tourist Resort in China”. It’s a scenic spot which has” the basic of natural mountains and waters, the intention of Taoism culture and village taste of east Zhejiang Province, as well as the character of Escarpment, Wonderful Stone, Traditional Village, Ancient Bridge, Ghyll and Waterfall”. This area is 45km from the Urban District of Yuyao Country, and 100 km from that of Ningbo City. With luxuriance vegetation and fresh air, this spot is a rear natural oxygen bar. As a typical landform of alpine terrace, it covers an area of 6.05 sq. km, with an average elevation of 550 meters. In this spot, the annual rainfall is 1348mm, and annual temperature 11.8℃,with the highest temperature of 32℃ in the whole year. It is imparted with the beauty of landscape in South China by warm and humid climate, and never lacks of personality because of the typical characteristic of climate diversification.

China Jade Garden

Jade World Resort is a large culture theme park Located in Dayin Town of Yuyao City, and along the golden tourist passage of east Zhejiang . The Park features a jade Culture that embodies the water, hills, jade carings and historical relics, and provides a package seryice for tourism, leisure; recreation and business activities. Jade World Garden has in it over twenty places of interest in the five areas: the gate, the Xiuhua Lake, the Xiyin Temple, the South Temple of Heaven, and the Phoenix Terrace, with over 10000 exhibits of jade carving works. The garden is the largest theme garden of jade in China.